Art critic and writer of contemporary visual art

It is with immense sadness that we must convey the news that Jean Fisher passed away on the
afternoon of Monday 12th of December. We are quite simply devastated. While Jean had been very
unwell over the past year, spending the past three months in hospital, she had begun to make
something of a recovery - she was always a fighter and tenacious when she put her mind to something!
But because of this it was all the more shocking to us that she deteriorated so rapidly and with such a
devastating result.

That she was so greatly cherished by so many people – whose lives she had touched through her
teaching, whose work and efforts in art practice she had encouraged and ardently supported, whose
political commitments and struggles she had passionately defended – is evident to us through the
emails we have received from her friends from all over the world. We are profoundly grateful to all of
you for your words of support at this immensely difficult time; just as we know that you too are grieving
for her loss – and that to so many of you she was irreplaceable. Let us console ourselves with the
thought of having known her: she brought hope, an optimistic spirit, and a critical intelligence into a
world encompassed by forces of darkness. She would want us to continue in our struggles, each in our
own way – and so we shall; and so we must.

To us, she was a mother and grandmother, a sister, an aunt and the closest of friends; she mentored us,
helped steer us through the difficult periods in our lives; she sustained our hopes and desires, our plans
and projects with an unwavering confidence in us. She was our greatest ally and advocate. We loved
her dearly and we will miss her more than words can begin to describe. She was also a joy to be with;
she was funny, witty, clever – which means, she was great company – as many of you have reminded
us. We know that all who met her will have many wonderful memories of Jean – think of her and smile
to ease your sorrow. She would want us to recall, amidst our grief and tears, her laughter and resolve.
Santi, Steve and Tony